Guide : How to recharge your electric car?

‍January 17, 2022

‍Withthe development of the latest electric car models and the recent regulations of the LOM law, the development of electric mobility has never been more important. Charging stations have multiplied and you're wondering how to use them... This guide will explain in detail what it's like to charge quickly and efficiently at Bump!

🤔 Electric charging stations: what for?

Charging stations, whether public or private, are generally installed on the road or in parking lots managed by public and private players. Their role is to recharge electric vehicles, and they are generally made up of..:

• an electric meter, 
• control interface, 
• an RFID badge reader (or other means of payment such as a QR code or credit card terminal), 
• from different sockets. 

Driven in part by the government, they are multiplying to support the development of the energy transition and meet the high demand from private and professional owners of electric vehicles. Their use is simplified and designed to be fast and accessible. 

🍳 Simple, efficient operation

Its operation is simple and not very different from that of a conventional power socket: the terminal sends energy through its sockets, which are connected to the vehicle by cables supplied in advance. 

This energy then charges your vehicle autonomously, and more or less efficiently depending on the type of current selected. 

In fact, there are two types of current: 

• AC" current called "alternating current 
• A "DC" current 

For fast charging, it is generally preferable to use direct current, whereas for overnight or slow charging, alternating current is selected. 

Once you've selected the type of recharging you'd like to use, simply tag your recharging pass, which you can order on our website or on other recharging interfaces (recharging badges are to some extent interoperable, so a pass other than Bump can identify itself on our terminals, and vice-versa). You then choose the socket that suits your car model, and plug it in.

All you have to do is wait until your charging target has been reached, then stop charging and start again. Charging times depend on the vehicle model, the type of current selected and the power of the charging station. With fast charging, for example, it's possible to fill up in less than an hour.

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✨ Multiple payment methods

To pay for your fill-up, you can either use your RFID badge, which you have credited in advance, or pay by card if a payment terminal is available, or by scanning a QR code. 

☄️ A charging network under development 

The network of charging stations is widely supported by the government and its users, who are multiplying over the years, as we observed in our article on the LOM law. 

In fact, according to the new "national barometer of charging infrastructures open to the public", deployed by the French Ministry of Ecological Transition, there would be 51,243 charging points in November 2021 with a 57% increase in their installation on French territory. 

This growth, which is unlikely to slow down, is benefiting the electric mobility market, creating the network needed to keep up the momentum of the energy transition.

This progress is also supported by installation subsidy schemes, as we saw in our article "Guide: everything you need to know about the ADVENIR bonus".